Ethics

Supervisor

Lynn Gillam

Department

Centre for Health and Society, University of Melbourne

Email

l.gillam@unimelb.edu.au

Objectives

Prepare a 10 minute presentation that answers one of the following questions (or one presentation of 5 minutes on two of the following):

1. When a parent refuses life-saving treatment for a child, to what extent is the doctor obliged to try to change the parent's mind?
2. Should children be told that they have a terminal illness?
3. On what basis could it be decided that a child is competent to consent to treatment and would the same basis apply for competence to refuse?
4. How much should parents be informed about the personally distressing aspects of some medical treatments for their children? Consider the example of holding down children for chemotherapy
5. Should all children with hearing loss be given a cochlear implant where medically indicated, regardless of parents' views?
6. Are doctors ever justified in helping children keep secrets from their parents?

Resources and learning opportunities

• Set reading
• Literature search
• Approach one of the above topics using a clinical case study, use clinical experience to assist learning
• The student's study/ report should include:
  • Adequate coverage of relevant literature
  • Issue clearly stated and addresssed
  • Awareness of relevant theoretical concepts
  • Awareness of different views